Second Chance Hero

by Shelley Calloway

  “I do, too.” Funny how miss never seemed like a strong enough verb. He ached for things that never were. That never had been. They simply hadn’t had enough time with their parents.

  “I don’t know where I’m going with Remy. I don’t know if anything will ever happen. But Cindy, I do know I need to at least try.”

  “I know.” Slowly she got up and tossed the green blanket she’d been using on the back of the denim couch. “Well, I better get on up to bed. I think your room is all set.”

  “I promise I’ll be fine. Go on to bed, Cin. See you in the morning.” Tonight he was going to be sharing the baby’s room. It had a daybed in the corner—a perfect size for Cindy…a tighter fit for him. But the company more than made up for the cramped conditions. Whenever he woke up, he loved hearing April suck her thumb and snore.

  A half hour later, when he crawled under the sheets and heard April’s steady breathing, Tyler sighed in contentment. He was so glad he’d gotten his priorities back in order. It still broke his heart that he’d missed so much of Megan’s babyhood.

  But as he drifted off to sleep Tyler couldn’t help wishing that he was sharing a room with a different girl. One with lovely gray eyes and gorgeous ivory skin.

  He wondered how she’d sound, sleeping next to him.

  Sleeping? Since when had he thought about a woman he was attracted to sleeping? He should be picturing her naked in his arms. Oh, he had it so bad.

  THE WEEKEND HAD BEEN never-ending. Carmen was right. She needed something else. She needed life and romance and light. Remy knew what she had now was only memories. And, well, that couldn’t get a girl very far on a lonely Saturday night.

  “You’re here early,” Shawn said, interrupting her train of thought.

  “I could say the same about you. Shawn, it’s only eight-thirty.”

  “I know.” Looking shamefaced, she said, “I came in early because I was hoping you wouldn’t mind if I left at one o’clock again today.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  A faint blush covered her assistant’s cheeks. “Yes.”

  “Oh. Well, then—”

  “All four kids will be gone this afternoon. Eddie and I can have the whole house to ourselves.”

  “Ah.”

  Shawn plopped onto the seat. “You don’t know what it’s like, trying to get alone time, Ramona. None of the kids nap at the same time. Shoot, the oldest gave up napping years ago. And that baby…” She waved her hands in dismay. “Boys are a whole lot different than girls, let me tell you. Christopher is everywhere!”

  Remy did her best to look serious, because Shawn certainly was acting as if she was in crisis mode. “Shawn, I definitely think you need to leave at one o’clock today.”

  “Thanks.” She turned, took two steps, then turned around again. “I’m not going to make a habit of this. I promise.”

  She didn’t want to make a habit of making love to her husband? If Shawn and Eddie just hadn’t gone through a difficult separation, Remy would be tempted to tell her that she didn’t know how lucky she was.

  But she was pretty sure Shawn did know—and that was why she was taking time off to be with her husband. “Don’t worry about leaving. Everything will be fine.”

  When Shawn opened the door, Remy caught a glimpse of someone very tall, dark haired and good-looking sitting on one of the chairs across from her assistant’s desk.

  Faster than his Corvette could accelerate, her pulse went into overdrive. “Tyler?”

  Shawn looked at him in surprise. “Hi there, Tyler. Did we have an appointment I forgot about?”

  Tyler stood up. “No. Actually, I’m here to see Ms. Greer.”

  To Remy’s dismay, Shawn went all protective, stepping to the left and effectively blocking his way—and Remy’s view.

  Damn!

  “I’m sorry, but Ms. Greer doesn’t see people without appointments,” Shawn said, all cool professionalism. And all business. “I’m sure I can help you with any problems you might be having.”

  “I’m not having problems.”

  “Then what—”

  “I’ll see him, Shawn. Thanks.”

  Sheer confusion filled Shawn’s gaze as she stepped away from the door. Tyler strode right on through as Remy walked around her desk—around Mark’s old desk—and met Tyler halfway.

  For a split second his gaze flickered to her mouth and he leaned a bit closer. Then he stopped himself and relaxed his stance. “Thank you for seeing me.”

  “That’s why I’m here.” Over Tyler’s shoulder Shawn was staring at the two of them, her eyes darting from one to the other. Because she was the boss, Remy did the only thing she could—she shut the door. Almost immediately the tension in the room increased. Tyler smiled.

  Chapter Five

  Tyler made no move to sit down. Instead, he simply stood there, legs slightly spread apart, hands shoved into his pockets. Looking directly at her. Making her feel a tiny bit vulnerable. And—somewhat ironically—completely feminine.

  Remy had no experience feeling like this. Usually she was the one in control in the room. She was the one who called the shots.

  She never thought too much about that—it just was what it was. Well, it was that way after a few years of wearing suits, heels, minimal makeup and working longer hours than anyone else. Through it all she’d attained an aura of power—which, she imagined, was no different from the way men felt as managers in other companies.

  But at the moment Tyler Mann didn’t look as if he’d gotten that memo. The one that said she was all business and deserved a healthy dose of respect. He wasn’t taking a single one of her nonverbal cues. Or looking to her for direction.

  No, there wasn’t a thing the slightest bit submissive in his body language. It was slightly disconcerting.

  It was incredibly attractive.

  She strove to retain the upper hand. Slipping her glasses on, she asked, “What may I help you with?”

  He rolled back on the pads of his feet. “I stopped by to ask you a question.”

  He sounded as if he’d just wandered over to her house to borrow eggs. What he’d done was far different. His “stopping by” meant he’d left his cubicle, climbed the staircase and entered the executive office suite—unannounced and uninvited. “What do you need to know?”

  Amusement flickered in his eyes as he stepped a little closer. Oh, he was tall. She was tall herself—almost five foot eight. He was at least six inches taller than that. “Actually, I wanted to know if you were dating anyone.”

  A thread of warmth snaked through her at his question. She fought it off with clipped words. “That question is completely inappropriate.”

  Instead of being cowed, he shrugged. “I know.”

  “I believe I told you that I’m a widow.”

  “I remember.” His voice softened. “He’s been gone what, three years?”

  For some unknown reason, she just kept talking. “Yes. Three years.”

  “Have you dated since?” Tyler was close enough to touch. Close enough for her to smell his cologne. Close enough for her to see that he had a faint scar over one of his eyebrows.

  No. No, she hadn’t dated much. She hadn’t even thought about it—well, not more than in the vague, philosophical sense. The fact that she was thinking about dating now—dating him—made her extremely nervous.

  It was time to go on the offensive again. “Why are you asking?”

  For a moment his dark eyes widened, as if she’d completely taken him by surprise. “Because I’m trying to ask you out.”

  “Trying?”

  He grinned. “Obviously I’m not doing a very good job.”

  She stated the obvious. “You’re an employee.”

  “I know.” He shifted his weight, causing Remy’s eyes to once again drift along his body. Today he was wearing a crisp white button-down with the collar buttons undone. Tanned skin peeked at her from his neck. Soft khakis and a wide dark leather belt showed he had no hidden beer bel
ly. He was totally, completely attractive.

  “I don’t date employees.”

  “It’s not against the law.” A smile flashed. “I read the handbook.”

  “I’m not the law, Tyler. Merely your manager.” She swallowed. “And I don’t date coworkers.”

  “Why don’t you make an exception?”

  “I can’t.”

  “Sure you can.” A dimple appeared, making him look almost boyish. “Give a guy a break and say yes. You know, it took a lot of nerve to climb those stairs and come in here.”

  She doubted it. He seemed to have gumption to spare. “It’s not a good—”

  He interrupted. “I thought we could go sailing.”

  “Sailing?”

  “Uh-huh.” With one swoop, he seemed to take in her black suit and high heels. “Say yes.”

  “I’ve never been sailing.” Against her will, visions of herself on the deck of a sailboat, wind in her hair, bright white sails standing tall overhead, flew into her mind.

  “Then it’s time you went, don’t you think?”

  More pictures appeared. Tyler bracing himself by sliding two hands on either side of her body. She, resting against that chest. Forgetting about everything except the sun and the sea and the way the air felt crisp and clean.

  But she couldn’t. What would everyone say if they saw the two of them together? What would Mark have thought? “I’m sorry. No.”

  Breaking the spell, he stepped back. “Remy, be honest. Is it me, or is it the job?”

  It was both. Plus more. It was her. It was the things she was feeling that felt scary and forbidden. “I don’t date, Tyler. But if I did, I would never date someone who worked for me.”

  “You know I’m going to ask again. I don’t give up easily.”

  “No, I don’t imagine you do.” With a sigh, she did what she had to do. “I’m sorry, but if you are working today, I do believe your break is over.”

  Within four steps, he’d opened her door, then walked out, never once looking back. Remy closed the door again before Shawn could even think about darting in and asking what was going on.

  But as Remy leaned back against the wood, she noticed—with some surprise—that her hands were shaking.

  KAITLYN SINCLAIR HAD never gone to college. Right after high school she’d attended nine months of beauty school. But somehow, right in the middle of perms and relaxers, she’d had an epiphany. No way on earth was she going to spend the rest of her days sticking her hands into someone else’s hair.

  Tyler found all that out during the five minutes it took to get to the employee parking lot at seven o’clock Friday night.

  “So that’s how I ended up at Carnegie,” she said, her blond hair swinging with each step. “Answering phones is a lot easier than cutting hair.”

  “I imagine so. I mean, here, all you have to do is talk. A lot.”

  “That part’s easy for me. I’ve never minded talking on the phone. In fact, some people have said that talking is one of the things I do best.”

  Tyler mentally rolled his eyes. Since she sat next to him in cubicle world, he knew exactly how much she talked on the phone. Incessantly. Kaitlyn talked loudly and forcefully. To customers. To her mother. To her roommate, Teresa. “Well, hope you have a good weekend.”

  She flipped her hair back, and her hair fell over one shoulder like a curtain made of liquid gold. “A bunch of us are going to Bishop’s Pub for happy hour. Why don’t you join us?”

  “Thanks, but I’ve already got plans.”

  “Oh.” Lashes batted. “Do you have a date?”

  Did a date with a two-year-old count? At the moment, absolutely! “Yeah. I promised someone I’d take her fishing. Sorry.”

  “Fishing? Oh. Sure. No problem.”

  With a wave, Tyler clicked open the lock on his car, then sank into the camel leather. About a dozen cars over, Kaitlyn got in and drove off in her spiffy red Chevy Malibu. Thinking again of her offer, Tyler called himself a fool.

  Her offer had been genuine and sweetly made. Over the years he’d dated plenty of women who weren’t as sweet or as pretty.

  And beneath that somewhat dim, nonstop talking, there was probably a woman with a good heart lurking. After all, she did call her mother several times a day. Perhaps she’d be great wife material when she matured a bit.

  And, well, she definitely found him attractive. She’d smiled, flirted and touched his arm every time they talked.

  But he’d bet money that she didn’t find him half as attractive as he found Ramona Greer. Lord, he didn’t know what it was about those silk blouses of hers, but every time he saw her he couldn’t help but imagine making love to her with just one of those shimmery garments on…and slowly coming off.

  So far, his favorite was the black blouse with the little keyhole collar. On Kaitlyn, it would look demure, almost nunlike.

  On Remy, it made her gray eyes look even more luminous and her beautiful ivory skin glow.

  He’d just turned on the ignition when his cell phone rang. Seeing that it was his sister, he answered immediately. “Hey, Cindy. I’m on my way over.”

  “You might want to rethink that. Megan’s got the stomach flu.”

  “Guess that fishing trip is going to have to wait.”

  “I’m afraid so.” She sounded worried.

  “I’m about to pull out of the parking lot. Do you need anything?”

  “Actually, I do. Ty, would you please run by the drugstore and pick up some baby Motrin? I hate to ask, but Keith is gone and I just can’t take Megan anywhere.”

  “Of course you can’t. What else do you need?”

  “Pedialyte and maybe a coloring book. And a bottle of wine. Red.”

  Shifting into First, he smiled as he pulled out of the parking lot. “Megan’s that bad, huh?”

  “She’s already ruined two carpets. I’m going to have to call the carpet cleaners. But don’t worry. I’m not going to make you even step inside.”

  Tyler knew this was just one of the many things his sister had been dealing with for the past few years. A husband who constantly traveled and no family around to lend a helping hand. Guilt for never even imagining her trials swung forward, making him realize once again that he’d made the right choice when he decided to come to Florida.

  Though he was man enough to admit that being around a pukey two-year-old might be pushing his uncle limits a bit far. “What about the baby?”

  “April’s great. Right now I’m trying to keep them away from each other. It’s a nightmare, though, because you know how April likes to be rocked.”

  “How about I take her for the night?”

  “What?”

  Warming up to the idea, he said, “I’m no mom, but I can take care of a baby. For one night, at least.”

  “Ty, there’s a car seat involved. And bottles and diapers! I can’t even believe I’m thinking about this.”

  “I’ll take your car. Pack up a bag for April and we’ll do a trade when I get there.”

  “Ty—”

  “That way you can get some rest when Megan does. Keith’s not due home tonight, is he?” Tyler seemed to recall he was flying overseas this week.

  “No. I’m on my own until Monday morning.”

  She sounded exhausted. “It’s settled. Pack me a bag, Cindy. Actually, pack more than you’d ever think April will need.”

  “Are you sure?”

  He was sure. “I love you, too, Cindy.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Anytime. See you soon.” Well, it wasn’t drinks with Kaitlyn, but it was still spending the night with a blonde, Tyler mused. Plus, in his opinion, little tiny April, with her perfectly cute toes and gummy grin, was far preferable. Even better, she hardly spoke a word.

  TWO HOURS LATER, when he crossed paths with Remy at Movies and More, searching for a movie that might lull April to sleep, he almost laughed out loud at his good fortune.

  Luckily, Remy looked as if she couldn’t help smiling at the
ir meeting either. “We have to stop meeting like this.” Then, when she saw he was holding a very cute six-month-old in one arm, her eyes widened and her expression faltered. “I didn’t know you had a baby.”

  “I don’t. This is my niece April. I’m babysitting tonight. My sister’s other kid is sick with the flu.”

  Yearning and sweetness transformed Remy’s features. Reaching out, she touched one of April’s tiny feet. “Oh, Tyler. She’s adorable. Look how cute these little socks are!”

  “Every bit of her is cute.” Giving in to temptation, he gave the baby a little squeeze and a gentle kiss on top of her wispy curls. Ty was pleased to see April was doing her part to be as irresistible as ever. At the moment she was simply staring at Remy with a pair of beautiful blue eyes.

  Still playing with April’s foot, Remy asked, “Do you watch your niece often?”

  “No. This is my first overnight. My brother-in-law, who’s a pilot, is out of town. My sister, Cindy, sounded so tired, I decided that the least I could do was help out a little.”

  “That’s sweet of you.”

  “It’s probably pretty dumb—she might end up crying all night. But we’ll see. My car is packed with April supplies. But then I remembered that she likes baby DVDs, so I thought I’d pick up the newest one.”

  “Good luck.” She held out her hand. “Can I help you carry the DVDs or something? Your arm’s got to be wearing out, holding that baby.”

  “I’ll take the help,” he said, handing her a Baby Einstein DVD and two comedies. Then, because he couldn’t resist, he added, “It’s a good thing you ended up saying no to sailing. I would have had to cancel on you.”

  “I guess everything was meant to be.”

  Because she looked so entranced with April, he pushed a bit. “I’m just going to be sitting at home tonight, watching baby movies and ordering pizza. Is that enough to tempt you to come over?”

  “Oh.” Letting go of April’s foot, Remy straightened. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think so.”

  “Are you saying no because we work together? How about if I promise I won’t tell a soul at Carnegie that I saw you outside of those hallowed halls?” Lowering his voice, he added, “Plus, it’s not even really a date. It’s babysitting.”